Everyone should be able to shape the decisions that affect their lives

Our institutions should reflect the people they serve

People should be able to hold those in power to account

Politics should offer people real alternatives

A PRS pamphlet of the 1920s described the organization's aims thusly: 1. to reproduce the opinions of the electors in parliament and other public bodies in their true proportions 2. to secure the majority of electors shall rule and all other considerable minorities shall be heard 3. to give electors a wider freedom in the choice of representation 4. to give representative greater independence by freeing them from the pressure of sectional interests (perhaps party discipline and back-room deals were meant] 5. to ensure to parties representation by their ablest and most trusted members. [2]

Since its formation, the Society has advocated replacement of the first past the post and plurality-at-large voting voting systems by a system achieving as pure proportional representation as possible, such as through party slate elections or multi-member ridings. The single transferable vote has historically been less supported and was described by a PRS spokesperson as having advantages as well as disadvantages over the FPTP system but makes no claim to be proportional representation.[3]). First Past the Post is currently used for elections to the House of Commons, and for most local elections in England and Wales, while plurality-at-large is used in the remainder of England and Wales, and was historically used in the multi-member parliamentary constituencies before their abolition.[4] It also campaigns for improvements to public elections and representative democracy, and is a regular commentator on all aspects of representation, public participation and democratic governance in the United Kingdom.

After World War II the Society suffered from financial problems and a lack of public appetite for reform. When Fianna Fáil put to a referendum a proposal to revert to first past the post twice (1959 and 1968), the Society, under the leadership of Enid Lakeman, led a successful campaign to keep the STV system in Ireland[5]

In August 2012 the Society predicted turnout could be as low as 18.5% and outlined steps the salvage the elections, mobilising support from both candidates and voters.[10] The Government did not change tack, dubbing the prediction a "silly season story".[11] Following the result, the Society branded the Government's approach to elections as a "comedy of errors", views that were reiterated by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.[12]

The Society led bids to change the Government's approach to introduction of Individual Electoral Registration, which the New Statesman dubbed "the biggest political scandal you’ve never heard of".[13] Electoral Commission sources estimated as many as 10 million voters could disappear from the electoral roll under government plans, predominantly poor, young or black, and more liable to vote Labour.[14] The Society succeeded in securing changes to the legislation.[15]

The Society argues that there is a democratic deficit in the European Union. A 2014 report recommended several ways to make the EU more accountable. These included: better scrutiny of EU legislation by the British parliament, a voting system which gives voters more influence over individual candidates (e.g. single transferable vote) and recruitment of party candidates with a wider ranges of views on the EU.[16]

Electoral Reform Services Limited (ERS, formerly Electoral Reform Ballot Services): A company established in 1988 to provide an independent balloting and polling service to organisations conducting elections and polls. The service is widely used by trade unions, political parties, building societies and companies when balloting their members or shareholders in ways defined by the law and their internal management. In many cases these organisations are forbidden from conducting their ballots internally in an attempt to ensure that the ballots are conducted impartially.

Electoral Reform International Services (ERIS): A company established in 1991 to provide assistance in conducting elections worldwide. Activities include advice, training and election monitoring.